Method of making metal parts for ring binders



Feb. 6, 1945. J. SCHADE METHOD OF MAKING METAL PARTS FOR RIN G BINDERSFi led Dec. 20, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Joli/v dcmwz J. SCHADEFeb. s, 1945.

METHOD OF MAKING METAL PARTS FOR RING BINDERS Filed Dad 20, 1945' 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jofi/v fa/mp5 ATTOR Ys- Patented Feb. 6, 1945UNITED STATES PATENT VOFFICE. M

METHOD OF'MAK-ING METAL PARTS-FOR 1 RINGBINDERS John Schajde, Holyok,Mass.,- assignor to National Blank Book company, Holyoke', Mass; 2.corporation'of Massachusetts Application December 20, 1943;. Serial Noi514,920.

claims".

This invention relates to improvements inthe method for making. ringbinders... It is customary in making ring'binders to provide binderrings held in and forming part of a toggle frame con.- struction. Theframe. usually carries the binder rings and operates under pressure froma spring plate to hold the rings open or closed. according to theposition into which the toggleframe is moved by hand against thespringpressure. Ordinarily the elements of such construction are eachseparately made to their individual and final form and then the separateelements are assem;

bled to make the form of their combination. This ordinary way ofmanufactureqrequires a lot of work, particularlyin the assembly-of theelements after they have been-separately formed. And it necessitatesacertain amount of fitting together by adjustment of parts which slowsdown the assembly work.

An object of my invention isrto permanently assemble most of thematerial entering into such a combination. before the material is allformed into the shape for theseparate individual elements, to then givethedesired'shape to the material for such elements, and by mostconveniently arranged method stepsmake them-ready for quick assemblywith the spring plate to-provide the finished construction ofthe-combination or ring binder mechanism. Another object is to provide aform of ring and frame structure which is particularly adapted to bemade by my method without complications'in the desired practice-of themethod. Such structure is made the-subject of adivisional application.

I will disclose the structure and the general plan of the. method ofmakingit and afterwards.

refer to particulars pertaining to the useful method steps and theirorder.

In. the drawings Fig. 1 shows the plan of assembling straight.

pieces of wire and welding their intersections;

Fig. 2 shows some of the assembled wire material with indications of afirst shaping-step;

Fig. 3 is like Fig. 2 with a second shaping step indicated; i

Fig. 3A is an end view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is like Fig. 3 with a third shaping step indicated; v

Fig, 5 is like Fig. 4 with a fourth shaping step indicated;

Fig. 5-A is an endview of Fig. 5;

Fig. 6 is a view like Fig. 5 showing a cutting and wire end shapingstep;

Fig. 6-A is a side view of an end portion'of Fig.

Fig. 7 is'a'perspective view otthe shaped wire from the raw material orwi're' to make the finished I product. So the method steps willbdescribed.

without the. complicated disclosure of automatic machinery.

To begin, two parallel Wires and 2,.which may beofindefinite length, arepositioned to receive laidon cross wires 3; These crosswires are laidparallel on wires I and 2 and as shown are spaced one from the other atany desired spacing. The

cross wires may be supplied from an indefinite length, laid on, andthencut for all the ends-on the same side to line up evenlyin a straightline, i

or as indicated at a and b they may be laid on and successiveendscutonthe same side slightly staggered, although all the cross wires 3 are ofthe same length. The purpose of the, staggered ends willbereferred tolateron.

.When the crosswires 3 arelaid onthe long wires I and 2, theircontacting Dointsare'al1-- welded together as indicated at 4. Apreferred! .way to do this is progressively 'inpairsjand by .welding allcontacting points of two'cross wiresto' the long wires latthe-'same-time by a multiple welding machine. Thusif the long wires aremoved ahead intermittently the length of two spacing distances of theshort cross wires they,

can be rapidly assembledin pairs, theirends cut off; successive pairs ofsho'rt wires welded in the i assembly with the longawires, and theweldedassembly will then arrive inUpairs of'short wires at convenientstations for: subsequent work steps; Of course i the arrangement orassembling in pairs is by way ofexample. 0 "etwo, or moreshort wiresmaybe assembled s multaneouslyl merely prefer twoata time, tneexampiegi-ven. In this way a ladder-likeassembly of long wire'sandshortwi'res maybe formed progressively and in definitely continued aslong as desired. This'flis all indicated" in Figs; 1 to 5 inclusiveyway-or example.

, After a pair of cross wires*,3' ar 'weld'edand" then" movedwiththelong wiresl and 2',' t'o'th'e these parts.

next work station, their central portions between wires I and 2 areflattened by swaging as shown at in Fig. 2. A flattened portion ispreferably given the form shown best in Figs. 3 and 3A.

After these flattened portions 5 are made, the wires move forward to thenext station and the portions of cross wires 3 extending beyond or inoverhanging relation to wires l and, 2 are bent or curved intosubstantially semi-circular form, see portions 6 in Figs. 3 and 3-A. Theoverhang on one side of each cross wire 3 is bent oppositely to theoverhang on the other side and together they form the complementarysides of one binder lring. If the cross wires are of a material or asize which does not bend easily at one operation,

then they can be partially bent in one operation .at one work stationand again bent further at another station until bent the wanted amount.

After the cross wires 3 are bent to ring form, the upper ends of eachwire are cut into complementary fitting forms. A preferred arrangementfor such ends to be cut is shown in Fig, 4 in the two left hand rings.It is advisable to make these out forms starting from underneath andcutting outwardly. This will avoid even the smallest size the stiffladder-like form of wire material, seen 1 in Figs. 1 to 4, is integraland in most convenient. iform for mass production steps. rings areformed and their outer ends shaped for Now that the matching fit whenclosed, it is desired to form toggle mechanism joints in the structureas will be explained. This is a particularly important 1 feature of myinvention.

The toggle joints are formed while the ladderlike form of wire isresting at the appropriate work station. As indicated in Fig. 5, the twoj left hand rings are at such a station. The work at this station isconveniently done by operations on two of the cross Wire flattenedportions simultaneously. The work consists in making the cut 7, .seeFig. 5--A, across the flattened portion 5, at the same time making thelittle transverse cut 8, from the edge inwardly of one of the severedends, and reversely bending the tongues 9 and H! as shown best in Fig.5A. This bending is edge on one side of out 1 is like a knife edge,

root portions of the oppositely bent tongues 9 and ID. The arrangementmakes a most inexpensive type of pivotal engaging parts for the ends ofthe ring halves and a most efficient joint between This feature will bereferred to again later on. While I emphasize-its advantage, the cutends of the cross Wires could be shaped in other ways for their pivotalengagement. For

example, a transverse notch in one end and a transverse V-shape made onthe other end would form pivotally engageable parts. But to form themthat way in carrying out my method, would involve bending the cut endsup to work on them and then bending them back for'the jointed positionin which they function. This would be nowhere near as easy as theoperations shown, as

preferred,'and the joint would not be as good.

After these pivotally engageable ends are made out of portions 5 for therings, the successive steps taken to bring the ladder-like material tothe work stations will move the desired length of long wires with thesevered and formed cross wires past the last forming work station. Thena desired length of the parallel long wires with the desired number ofmatching half rings on them may be cut olf. The cut off parts areassembled with an arched spring plate as will be two bent upends H andI2 of the long wires I and 2, These are crossed as shown. By pressingthese as finger pieces in the direction of the arrows, the rings areeasily opened.

Such an opening device is preferably provided for in my method steps asfollows: In arranging the method steps to be carried out at successivestations, one of the first steps is to feed the cross wires on the longwires. The latter are moved forward step by step, the cross wires arefed. on. When enough wires have been fed on to provide for one bindermechanism of desired length and number of rings, the feed of the crosswires may be interrupted to permit the advance of the needed lengths ofthe long Wires, free of cross pieces, for forming the finger pieces-forthe ring opening device; The spacing as shown is by way of example andof course no welding or forming operations are performed along the barelengths of the long wires from which the finger pieces are to be formed.At the cutting off station l3, Fig. 6, the cutting is delayed until thebare portions of the long wires which are to form the finger pieces havepassed'the cutter as shown in the latter figure. Alternatively, ofcourse, the cutting could I be timed so as to bemade in the normalposition preferably done by the appropriate shape of a .two part diecutting tool. In the product the. i

the portion 5 being flattenedand thin as it is, for. pivotal engagementalong the line made by the behind the last ring of the preceding ringassembly so that the bare portions of the long wires project from theforward end of the assembly still being worked on. In the manner ofcutting illustrated, the bare portions are bent up at the cut offstation in the positions best shown in Fig. 6-A. .Their hooked ends arehere positioned so as not to engage. When the assembly with the springplate 14 is made as indicated in Fig. 8 the finger piece I2 is benttoward the other one ll so the hooked ends will engage as desired. Suchan arrangement in the method makes it easier to assemble the two halvesof the ring frame in the spring plate when the opening device is to bemade part of the structure.

The assembly of parts with spring plate I4 is easily made. The longwiresare bedded in the hook-shaped sides of the spring plate I4, with thering halves threaded through the adjacent holes. The lower ends of thering halves are put into pivotal engagement, each as in Fig. 11. Thenthe finger piece I2 is bent into final position as stated... c

Considering the ringarrangement in the finished assembly Fig. 9, it willbe noted that the upper ends of the ring halves l3 do not come togetherfor their ends to meet in the same longitudinal and vertical plane. Theyhave a staggered arrangement with respect to the meeting points,indicated at c and d. As shown, alternate rings meet in the samevertical plane and there are two planes of meeting ends. This is anadvantage in the easier threading on the'rings of the hole punched'looseleafy, sheets, particularly when the rings are closely spaced. The sheetfirst threads every other ring inevery other hole, and this holds it inposition to engage'the remaining rings. When all the rings need toengage all the aesmo holessat; one" time,"therpropercangnmentuisi some.-times difficult'toiget; particularlyswhena'there :are many ringsandfimanyiholeswtobeengaged.

suchiarefinementaof *ring arrangement is most easily incorporated" intheystructure by the nature of my me'thod steps. -Itis only'necessary tofeed the cross-wires 3 in :thestaggered arrangement on the longwires;=accor ding to theplan I pointed out before with:respectztoendsu andb inFig. 1. This is done without the slightest difficulty, :and the resultis that-thestructui e can be made better without.anyextra expense.

-Wlfil llI "have shown long -wires of round cross section, the-methodcan be carried out also with flattened instead of round-'wire."'Fhecross' wires may also-"be 'madeof ---s-omewhat flattened wire withthe long axis parallel tcthe long wires. Such-"changes --a-re'-obviousvariations-within 'my method.

There-are in the 'priorartring-binder constructions-of variouskinds-ma;de*by-re1atively expen sive methods which can now be made by-myinexpensive method. Choosing one of thesethat in some respects issimilar structural :features to the structural-arrangement, I havediscussed aboveyl will refer to that of the-prior-artTrussell Patent#959,182. The spring-plate in such construction is the same'asmineexcept it is turned over and doesnoflfunctiori-asa cover'plate. The,operation is-equivalent. In this prior-structure the long-wirescorresponding-t my wires i and? arefiat instead of roundin crosssection, andthe ringhalves-are-fixedas ifiintegral with the cross wires,as--mine"are. 'And'lthe' lower ends of the rings are held by'thespringplate in "pivotal en gagement so" as-"tomakethe same general kindofspringtoggle-arrangement or frame as 'I have described, for openingand closing the rings with the-aid -of thespring plate. "A'principaldifference is inithejnature of'the pivotally .enga ging ends. But ineither'case-my method of making could be followed toadvantagein makingthis general typeof-structure. This one Trussell structure isreferred'toby way of example. It illustrates thefact'thatmy methodjifadapted to make ring binders of a typefthe mere details of whichmay bevaried to a considerable degree. While thefeatures'of staggering thering ends as at c and d in Fig. 9, and providingthe finger pieces H andI2 for opening the rings have been described in detail, they arerefinements in structure, mentioned to show how well adapted my methodis to build in such refinements without adding any substantial cost inthe making ofthem. They may be omitted and my method will be of largeadvantage in building the ring binder of the type generally referred to,

A feature of the method is that the parts will assemble and fit togetherin the spring plate without the need for any precision fitting. Thematched ends of the ring prongs on the top have a self centeringtendency. The matched ends of the toggle levers at their pivotallyengaged parts are shiftable to a sufficient extent to need no precisionfitting. Thus when the two 'halves of the frame are cut oif from thelonger frame they will assemble easily in the spring plate. When thehalves are put anywhere near together as they are wanted in the springplate, each half is shiftable relatively to the other and easily as awhole. Thus the ring prongs and the toggle levers can be brought intomatching position without any need for any individual precision fittinganywhere in the structure. There is considerable: leeway. available..=And-.:such; leewayiis importantriforaeconomy: and-econvenienceassembly wwork of :such' wire and sheet :metal structure. :Furthermore,:-such leeway :makes. ;a

better :woltk-ing final aproduct because if ,any-zpart is sprung-but ofline :a :bit still thetassemblywis loose enough to continuealltheexpectedioperations without any cramping actionof the zoperatp ingparts.

-Itwill nowwbe clear *that the type of structure shown in Fig. 7 bothgenerally and specifically maybe usefully made by .my method and'rthatits cost willtbelow. Th method is one:Whichtis-.-pa-rticularly :welladapte'd to makelsuch a:structure with any :desired numbensize,:andspacing of ring=-structure in'to-ggle'frame structure.

As I have said, the bent ends I |andil12-are :re-

finements in the structure. It will be made by still insure a'supply.Furthermore, the procedure 1 of my method fits the plan of keepingthe'work going'without'regard to particular lengths. That i-s-to-saythere need be no tie up inthe'factor-y While changing machinery from ione sizeof binder mechanism to another in their maki-ngope-rations."Inm-y description of themethodin its preferred form I have disclosedthe preferred sequence-"for the working steps. *For example, there is aadvantage -in-rnaintaining the ladder-like form of material in relationto one Or another-'workstep. But it is obvious that 'the'sequence ofsteps may be varied to a considerable extent -wi thout "dcparting fromthe-invention in itsbroader aspects. I have taken this into account-indrawing my claims wherein some do "include and "some -do not emphasize-aparticular sequence. *Having disclosedmy invent-ion, Iclaim: I

1. *Themethod of 'making the *multi-pron'gand frame members for a looseleaf binder which consists in arranging a pair of long supporting wiresin parallel spaced position, moving them lengthwise in steps,positioning one or more short spaced cross wires on the long wiresbetween said steps, with their end portions extended at each side beyondthe spaced long wires, fastening the wires as by welding at theirintersections, thereby forming a ladder-like formation of wire, andbetween said steps forming the projecting ends of the cross wires intocomplementary prongs, separating their intermediate portionsand formingtheir terminals intopivot joints, and finally cutting the long wireswhen the cross wires are formed as stated, whereby the two halves of-each cut off formation will serve for the multi-prong members of aloose leaf binder.

2. The method for the purpose described which consists in laying outparallel long wires a fixed distance apart, feeding cross wires spacedone from another, with their end portions in overhanging relation to thelong wires, fixing the cross Wires as by welding to the long wires attheir points of intersection, wires lengthwise and repeatedly feedingand fixing cross wiresthereon to continue building the wire material ina ladder-dike formation, and

feeding the long I with the support from such a formation, working thewire material of each cross wire as it lies between the long wires intoa separable pivotally engaging joint, shaping the overhanging pm- Itions of each cross wire into oppositely arranged complementary ringportions with complemen- ,tary matching ends, doing said working andshaping of the cross wires in any desired order but before the longwires are cut, and cutting off portions of the long wires when each suchportion is successively supplied with enough units of the cross wiresworked and shaped as stated to serve in abinder mechanism of any chosenlength and repeating these steps on the material of said ladder-likeformation back of the cut- 01f portions to prepare additional portionsfor betweenthe long wires, into pivotally engageable and separabletoggle levers shaping the overhanging portions of the short wires intocomplementary ring prongs with matching ends, and

doing this work in steps while the short wires are fastened to both longwires as stated, at least until the ring prongs are shaped and it isnecessary to cut the central portions of the short wires for completingthe cut'ends for said form of pivotally engageable toggle levers, thenmounting each long wire with its prongs and toggle levers to match theprongs and complementary levers of the other long wire in a spring plateto complete the mechanism.

4. The method of making a ring binder mechanism which consists infastening a pair of spaced side wires to a plurality of spaced crosswires, as by welding to make a stiff frame ofladder-like formation, thecross wires having portions extending beyond the side wires, shapingthese extended portions into complementary ring holding prongs,spreading the central portions of the cross wires between the sidewires, carrying out such shaping and spreading steps while the frame fthe cross wires forming complementary prongs V and the lower partscomplementary toggle levers between the side wires.

5. The method of making ring binder mechanism which consists inprogressively assembling wire pieces for ring elements across a pair ofparallel spaced wire material of long indefinite length for the sidewires of toggle frames, the cross wire pieces being spaced ringdistances apart, fastening the wire pieces, as by welding, to the sidewires to make a stiff ladder-like frame assembly, the cross pieces inthe assembly overhanging the side wires far enough to furnish materialfor bending ring prongs in complementary pairs out of each cross piece,the side wires being spaced enough to bound a cross piece section longenough'to furnish material for two toggle levers, and progressivelyworking the material as furnished in said frame assembly into curvedmatching ring prongs fromthe overhanging portions of the cross piecesand into separate, matched end, toggle pivotally ehgageable levers, fromthe portions of thecross pieces between the side wires of the frame, andwhile thus working the frame parts into the said forms maintaining theframe part'uncut until necessary to finally form the separate togglelevers and then cutting the frame apart progressively at the crosspieces, as such toggle levers are to be finally formed, andprogressively cutting the frame at the side wires only when enough workhas been done to furnish a length desired'for atleast One binder'mechanism and finally assembling the halves of the frame part thus cut,with a spring plate for a ring binder mechanism.

'JOHN SCHADE.

